Process of treating containers for reception of transformer oil



Patented Aug. 7, 1934 TE T:

PROCESS OF TREATING ooNTAmERs'EoR RECEPTION TRANSFORMER OIL Arthur Pew, Jr., BrynMawn; and Harry 7 Franklin Angstadt, Philadelphia; Pa., assignors 1 .5 ing or coating operation.

to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a cornotation of New Jersey Serial No.

5 Claims. (01. 23242) In. shipping transformer oil in tank cars it is customary to thoroughly clean the car and then load it with the oil. Cleaning with transformer oil produces apparently clean surfaces, but it .does

", not thoroughly clean the surface of oxides. Upon subsequent exposure of the oil to oxidizing conditions, the iron oxide which is suspended-in the oil acts as a catalyst furthering oxidation, with resultant decomposition of the 011., After being emptied of its contents and returned to the refinery, the sides of the car, due to the cleaning effect of the oil, are very susceptible to further oxidation. As it is practically impossible to clean the car thoroughly before reloading, the conditions are especially favorable for the absorption by the second load of oil of the poisonous catalytic iron oxides.

The object of the invention is to subject the car to such treatment that its interior surface 9 will prevent formation of catalyticoxides, such 5 to absolutely insure the proper conditioning of the car for the reception of the oil.

The inside of the car is first thoroughly steamed to insure the removal of all gases that might otherwise be ignited, with destructive results to life and property, in the operation that immediately follows. In treating a 10,000 gallon car, it is preferred to continue the steaming for about four hours, although this time may be shortened or lengthened.

, The inside of the car is then subjected to a sand-blasting operation. It is preferred to conduct this operation in stages so as to allow settlement of the dust and removal of some of the sand between stages. Moreover, when it is attempted to complete the sand-blasting operation in one operation, it is usually found that the inside shell of the car, including the inside of the dome cover, inside of the outlet chamber, valve mechanism, etc., contain traces of rust, which (1 render a second sand-blasting operation advisable if not necessary.

In place of sand-blasting may be substituted other processes which will put the interior of the car into condition for the subsequent spray- Thus, resort may be had to picklingbya suitable acid followed' by an alkaline wash, as iscommonly done in removin mill scale from steel'plates. If this procedure is followed, the inside of the tank or car. should then be thoroughly water-washed.

; The interior of the car is then covered with. 3" v V It is also desirmation of rust. An especially efficient coating is, any of the commercial aluminum paints. i It is preferred to use a paint comprisinga mixture of two pounds of polished aluminum powder to one gallon ofvarnishb It ispreferred, in order first .coat should'be'all-owed todi'y, say for a period of about two days," after which thesecond coatis applied. This insures a coating of substantially uniform thickness and the complete covering of all surfaces. The tank should then be allowed to dry for several days. At the end of this period the paint will have completely dried, but if it is desired to remove all odor of paint, the tank should be completely filled with clean, cold water.

Instead of using an aluminum paint, it is possible to use cellulose lacquers, shellac and other special varnishes which do not dissolve in, or change the virgin electrical characteristics of, the mineral oil or compound. In specifying the application of aluminum paint as a step of the procf ess, it will be understood that we mean to include This oil must be a properly refined oil, 7

The car is now ready for the reception of the transformer oil to be shipped to the user. However, where it is desired to absolutely insure the customer against receiving oil that has undergone the slightest deterioration or decomposition, the

70 the, tank, whichin turnwould cause quick forand forth so as to insure therrinsing and washing of every part of the car, particularly rivet heads and the other parts Whose cleaning is not readily effected. This insures the removal of every trace of material which might lower the life test values of the oil to be shipped. The oil thus used for final cleaning is afterward pumped to slop oil.

The oil that is shipped to the user is, when received by the user, absolutely free of catalytic oxides.

The process is not only applicable totank cars and not only to containers for transformer oil, but is applicable toall containers'used in the storage or transportation of transformer oil, switch oil, capacitor oil, cable oil, impregnating oil, and in fact of any oil or compound used in theelectrical industry where a slight change in the composition of the mineral oil or compound would result in such deterioration of the product as would make itunfit for the electrical use to which it is intended. In specifying transformer oil in the claims, we intend to be understood as including the treatment of the other oils and compounds above specified. I r

It will be understood that the details of the process may be varied, and that omission of certain steps and the simplification of other steps are especially feasible in treating containers of small capacity.

' Having now fully described our invention, what We claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. The process of preparing containers to receive transformer oil for shipment or storage thereof, whichfcomprises removing all oxides from the interior of the container, applying a protective coating to the cleaned surface and washing the coated surface with a refined'oil thej'cleaned surface and washing the coated surface with a refined oil selected from the group consisting of transformer, switch or cable oils.

3. The process of preparing containers to receive transformer oil for shipment or storage thereof, which comprises removing all oxides from the interior of the container, applying a protective coating to the interior of the container and drying, washing the coated surface with a refined oil selected from the group of transformer, switch "or cable oils, filling the container with a refined .oil selected from the same group and discharging saidrefined oil from the container.

4. The process of preparing containers toreceive transformer oil for shipment-or storage thereof, which comprises removing all oxides from the interior of the container, applying a'protective coating to the interior of the container and drying, washing out the container with water, washing the coated surface with a refined oil selected from the group of transformer, switch or cable oils, filling the container with a refined oil selected from the same group and discharging said refined oil from the container.

' 5'. The process of preparing containers to re ceive transformer oil for shipment ,or storage thereof, which comprises steaming the interior of the container to insure the removal of ignitable gases, removing all oxides from the interior of the container, applying a protective coating to the interior ofthe container and drying, washing the coated surface with a refined oil selected from the group of transformer, switch or cable oils, filling the container with a refined oil select ed from the same group and discharging said refined oilffrom the container.

ARTHUR E. PEW, JR.'- HARRY F RA NKLIN ANGSTADT; 

